As the stock market and the economy are not on stable ground, saving money is something that has become critical for many families. We have probably heard all of the more conventional ways to do this like going to the library, going on a job with your camera and taking pics along the way, gardening, or even play a game with the family. What other things can you think of here?
Energy
If you are going to save money, why not do it on something that you HAVE to pay for on a monthly basis anyway? For example, you have to pay for the energy you use in your home, right? Well, if you live in an unregulated state, or even in Alberta, Canada, you will have the ability to choose your energy provider as opposed to being stuck with the only one in your area.
Skimp on the Money, not the Fun
We talked about not cutting into your fun money. That doesn’t mean that you can’t save while you still have fun, though. There are a lot of things that you can do while on a budget. Consider hiking, camping, going for a picnic, visiting museums on a “free day,” going to the library, going on a job with your camera and taking pics along the way, gardening, or even play a game with the family. What other things can you think of here?
Go Halfsies
Many people live in abodes that are close to others and you can easily get the signal to reach a neighboring apartment.
Shop Online
Speaking of saving money on the internet, do you do any shopping online? If you do, there are all sorts of ways that you can save money. There are free browser add-ons that will help you save money at many of the most popular online shopping sites. Each site that you go to where you will be able to earn cash back there will be a little button at the top left of your screen that will tell you just how much cash back you can earn for the things you will be buying anyway. This might be a dollar amount or a percentage of your purchase.
DIY Home Products
Many people are beginning to make their own products to use at home. These products might include things like dish detergent and shampoo to mouthwash and even fabric softener. The savings that you can see from these things are pretty big and many of the things that you can make will be just as good as, if not better than the store-bought products.
Ditch the Wheels
This might not be such a feasible option for people who live quite a ways from their work, or for those in areas that don’t have public transportation. But if you can manage to eliminate the wheels it can mean big savings and it will reduce your carbon footprint as an added bonus. Just think, you will be able to save on car payments, insurance, and gas. There are many options that will allow for this too, including biking, public transportation, ride sharing and more. You can also do a lot of your shopping, even for groceries, online and this cuts out a need for a car, too.
Speaking of Groceries
Did you know that you can actually buy your groceries straight from the source? You might also choose to join a co-op and purchase vegetables in bulk right from a farm.
Well, there you have it. A few ways that might be a bit outside of the norm for saving money. What other ways can you think of?
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